Patents Assigned to Nicor, Inc.
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Patent number: 12560311Abstract: A luminaire can include a light engine producing a light beam, a zoomable optic changing the light beam's solid angle, and a light conditioner that may diffuse the light beam, split the light beam, or produce a wall wash beam from the light beam. The luminaire may removably attach to a frame mounted in a ceiling. A power supply powering the light engine and a collar may also removably attach to the frame. The luminaire is located in a collar hole in the frame to thereby pass through the ceiling. The collar adapts the collar hole for differently sized luminaires such as 4 inch or 6 inch luminaires.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2024Date of Patent: February 24, 2026Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Jiabin Yu, Yunhong Hu, Dezhong Zeng
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Patent number: 12505724Abstract: An electronic door chime can meet safety standards and be compatible with smart doorbells and IOT doorbells. Current generation smart doorbells, also called IOT doorbells, require continuous power to drive the cameras, audio interfaces, and other components within the smart doorbell. Compatibility issues with prior art doorbell systems have emerged with the smart doorbell receiving inadequate power or power that doesn't meet the smart doorbell's input specification. In some cases, a prior art doorbell system is driven to failure or to excessive temperatures when the smart doorbell continuously draws too much power. A new electronic door chime can safely power the smart doorbells while also being compatible with simple push button doorbell devices.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2024Date of Patent: December 23, 2025Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Rocklan E. Lawrence, Qiang Hong
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Patent number: 12506295Abstract: An electrical backshell that includes a strain relief having a flexible neck connected to a jacketed data cable proximate a terminal end of the data cable, and a cylindrical portion integral with said flexible neck; a base connector configured to accept and accommodate the terminal end of the data cable; a coupling nut configured to connect with said base connector and to engage said strain relief and to bring said cylindrical portion of said strain relief into sealing engagement with said base connector, wherein when assembled, said electrical backshell provides waterproof protection for electrical connectors in underground utility meter boxes.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2023Date of Patent: December 23, 2025Assignee: Nicor, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Cook
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Patent number: 12407109Abstract: An antenna and antenna enclosure including a housing having a cylindrical first portion defining a hollow interior volume with an inner diameter, a cylindrical second portion defining a hollow interior portion having an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the first portion, and a disk disposed inside the second portion and defining a central hole. A rod is disposed in and extends through the central hole of the disk and is captured in the hollow interior volume of the cylindrical first portion. The rod defines a central opening and abuts an inner surface of the disk. A wire is arranged inside the central opening, and a cap covers the hollow interior of the cylindrical portion and engages the housing. A circuit board for the antenna is disposed on underside of the cap and connects to the wire.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 2, 2025Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Cook
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Patent number: 12379096Abstract: A high bay light fixture with a monolithic die cast housing. An LED driver and a sensor socket can be installed in a component tray in the center section. The left section and the right section of the housing have LED channels in which LED assemblies are mounted. Lenses can be slid into the LED channels via the open ends of the LED channels. Channel caps are attached to the open ends. Closed ends can also be formed into the housing. The channel caps and the closed ends prevent the lenses from sliding out of the LED channel. Lens tabs prevent the lens from falling out of the LED channels. The housings have bonding bracket mount points and can be attached end to end by bonding brackets attached to the bonding bracket mount points, thereby forming dual and triple fixtures.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2023Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Jialiang Chen, Jibo Cao, Jiabin Yu
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Patent number: 12163645Abstract: A flush mount lighting fixture can incorporate aspects that provide reconfigurability and convenience. Selector switches can provide a wide selection of illumination levels and color temperatures. The switches may be inaccessible while the fixture is installed to thereby prevent unwanted adjustment. A magnetically attached faceplate is easy to install, replace, adjust, and change for other faceplates. A top diffuser may be interchangeable with a wall wash insert. The top diffuser can produce a lighting pattern that is circularly symmetric with a fixture axis of the fixture. The wall wash insert produces a lighting pattern that is asymmetrical and may be offset from the fixture axis of the fixture.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Lina Huang, Jiabin Yu, Yunhong Hu
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Publication number: 20240183693Abstract: An AMI/AMR in-ground meter box, including first and second side panels, each having an interior side and an exterior side; and first and second end panels, each having an interior side and an exterior side; wherein each of said side panels and end panels include a generally rectangular planar portion having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first interlocking end having a plurality of male elements and female slots, an arcuate second end having a 90-degree bend which forms a corner of the assembled meter box and terminating in an interlocking end having a plurality of male elements and female slots configured to interlock with paired male elements and female slots in said first interlocking end and with an improved adjustable bracket channel assembly for interior support.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Applicant: NICOR, INC.Inventor: JEFFREY A. COOK
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Publication number: 20240120657Abstract: An antenna and antenna enclosure including a housing having a cylindrical first portion defining a hollow interior volume with an inner diameter, a cylindrical second portion defining a hollow interior portion having an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the first portion, and a disk disposed inside the second portion and defining a central hole. A rod is disposed in and extends through the central hole of the disk and is captured in the hollow interior volume of the cylindrical first portion. The rod defines a central opening and abuts an inner surface of the disk. A wire is arranged inside the central opening, and a cap covers the hollow interior of the cylindrical portion and engages the housing. A circuit board for the antenna is disposed on underside of the cap and connects to the wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Nicor, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. COOK
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Patent number: 11940468Abstract: An AMI/AMR in-ground meter box, including first and second side panels, each having an interior side and an exterior side; and first and second end panels, each having an interior side and an exterior side; wherein each of said side panels and end panels include a generally rectangular planar portion having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first interlocking end having a plurality of male elements and female slots, an arcuate second end having a 90-degree bend which forms a corner of the assembled meter box and terminating in an interlocking end having a plurality of male elements and female slots configured to interlock with paired male elements and female slots in said first interlocking end.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Cook
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Patent number: 11869341Abstract: An electronic door chime can meet safety standards and be compatible with smart doorbells and IOT doorbells. Current generation smart doorbells, also called IOT doorbells, require continuous power to drive the cameras, audio interfaces, and other components within the smart doorbell. Compatibility issues with prior art doorbell systems have emerged with the smart doorbell receiving inadequate power or power that doesn't meet the smart doorbell's input specification. In some cases, a prior art doorbell system is driven to failure or to excessive temperatures when the smart doorbell continuously draws too much power. A new electronic door chime can safely power the smart doorbells while also being compatible with simple push button doorbell devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Rocklan E. Lawrence, Qiang Hong
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Patent number: 11842194Abstract: Systems and methods for illumination power, management and control can include lighting fixtures, lighting controllers, databases, and gateways. The lighting controllers can power the lighting fixtures, control the lighting fixtures, and store fixture state data and controller state data. The lighting controllers can be connected to building mains power (e.g., 240 VAC) and provide DC power to the lighting fixtures. The lighting controllers can read state data from and control the fixtures via a digital interface. The Database server can store user profiles, site profiles, fixture property data, and controller property data. The gateway can read and modify the state data stored by the lighting controllers, and can query the database server for the property data. The gateway can also provide a user interface through which users, based on authorization, can read and write the state data (e.g., fixture on/off) and the property data.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: David Brown, Lucas Jackson
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Publication number: 20230396015Abstract: An electrical backshell that includes a strain relief having a flexible neck connected to a jacketed data cable proximate a terminal end of the data cable, and a cylindrical portion integral with said flexible neck; a base connector configured to accept and accommodate the terminal end of the data cable; a coupling nut configured to connect with said base connector and to engage said strain relief and to bring said cylindrical portion of said strain relief into sealing engagement with said base connector, wherein when assembled, said electrical backshell provides waterproof protection for electrical connectors in underground utility meter boxes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Nicor, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Cook
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Patent number: 11664680Abstract: A system and apparatus comprise at least one power supply connected to a terminal bloc, an I/O system configured to receive instructions provided to the control system, a control block connected to the I/O system wherein the instructions provided to the I/O system are converted to a serial output; and a puck connected to the serial output and configured to receive power from the terminal block, to process the serial output, and to output a current.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: David M. Brown, Trevor Shaw, Jorge A. Gomez Martinez
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Patent number: 11620131Abstract: Systems and methods for illumination power, management and control can include lighting fixtures, lighting controllers, databases, and gateways. The lighting controllers can power the lighting fixtures, control the lighting fixtures, and store fixture state data and controller state data. The lighting controllers can be connected to building mains power (e.g., 240 VAC) and provide DC power to the lighting fixtures. The lighting controllers can read state data from and control the fixtures via a digital interface. The Database server can store user profiles, site profiles, fixture property data, and controller property data. The gateway can read and modify the state data stored by the lighting controllers, and can query the database server for the property data. The gateway can also provide a user interface through which users, based on authorization, can read and write the state data (e.g., fixture on/off) and the property data.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: David Brown, Lucas Jackson
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Patent number: 11047553Abstract: A luminaire a small number of carefully designed extrusions is easily manufactured. The housing is formed by joining four pieces having a first extrusion profile. A second extrusion profile is used for the side and end covers. A third profile is used for access covers. The housing frames a lens, such as an acrylic sheet, and long lines of LEDs are positioned to shine directly into the side of the lens. A reflective layer on the lens directs all or some of the LED light out the luminaire's front, perhaps directing some light out the back. Strategically positioned diffusors ensure a pleasing lighting effect. The result is a very thin and light weight luminaire having a large surface area. The luminaire can be suspended by threaded nipples, by cables threaded through holes in the back, or by brackets screwed to threaded inserts.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Jorge Alfredo Gomez Martinez, David Brown, Ye Jin, Jiabin Yu, Zihai Lu, Trevor Shaw
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Patent number: 11015776Abstract: Luminaire housings for architectural, industrial and warehouse applications have extrusions with parallel flat sides connected by a cross member. The wireway can be enclosed by the extrusion's roof or by cover segments clamped over an open top extrusion. Wireway openings provide access to the wireway. Nuts slid into T-channels in the roof or cover segments provide for mounting or suspension via wall brackets, cables, and housing brackets. Threaded nipples accessible through the roof or cover segments provide for pendant stem mounting. Continuous run brackets can join housings end to end. Optical elements slid into slots and channels in the housing can be retained by end caps. A housing cover over the wireway can be clamped in place by screws threaded into fixture brackets retained within the housing. The housing grooves in the cover segments can slidably engage the extrusion until the cover segments are clamped in place.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Jorge Alfredo Gomez Martinez, David Brown, Ye Jin, Jiabin Yu, Zihai Lu, Trevor Shaw
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Patent number: 10914441Abstract: A lighting system having a LED downlight in a ceiling fixture can be attached to a ceiling by fixing hanger bars to ceiling rafters. The lighting system can then be completely covered by insulation. The insulation thereby lays directly on the downlight, junction box, and a cup passing mains power from the junction box to the downlight. The insulation does not enter the cup, downlight, or junction box. The lighting system does not ignite or melt the insulation in normal operation if the insulation meets residential and commercial safety standards. In normal operation the lighting system does not expose the lighting system to a temperature exceeding 90 degrees Celsius. A trim can be attached to the downlight to change its appearance and without rendering the lighting system unsafe.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventor: Rocklan E. Lawrence
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Patent number: 10871275Abstract: A family of lighting systems uses a small number of standard parts or extrusions. The extrusions include end elements, spars, and heat sinks. Lightbars and uplights, having heat sinks, LED arrays, and lenses, use heat sinks with the same extrusion profile. The extruded parts can be slid together and then held in place by screws holding side panels to form a housing. Conditioned electrical power can drive the LED arrays. The conditioned power can be produced by power conditioners mounting on the housing. IP65, or better, components can be used to produce a rugged outdoor system.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventors: Jorge A. Gomez Martinez, David Brown
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Patent number: D919167Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: NICOR, INC.Inventor: Jorge Alfredo Gomez Martinez
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Patent number: D1014815Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Nicor, Inc.Inventors: Yibo Xu, Jialiang Chen, Jibo Cao, Jiabin Yu